Noose found inside fraternity house at University of Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A noose was found inside a building that houses a fraternity at the University of Maryland, police said.

The University of Maryland Police Department responded to the Phi Kappa Tau chapter house located on Fraternity Row last Thursday at around 11:39 p.m. for a reported hate/bias incident. According to police, the noose was discovered earlier in the day between 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.

Police said the incident is under investigation.

University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh said in a statement:

"This incident is despicable. A thorough UMPD investigation is underway. I resolutely condemn the use of a symbol of violence and hatred for the purpose of intimidating members of our University of Maryland community. All of us--students, faculty, staff, alumni-- stand united in our commitment to core values of human dignity, diversity, inclusiveness, and intellectual freedom. We stand against such craven expressions of bigotry."

The bananas were marked with "Harambe" and "AKA," targeting the predominantly African American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. The racist displays were put up on the same day the university's student body president, a member of the sorority, took office.